Visitors to Banjaar Tola typically come seeking one thing: glimpses of the area's celebrity species, the tiger, of which only about 4,000 remain in the wild. But after the long journey there, which requires a five-hour drive from the nearest airport, it's not uncommon for travelers to be pleasantly surprised by the tented camp's ample charm itself.

Situated on the banks of the Banjaar River, amidst the sal and bamboo forests of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha National Park, Banjaar Tola's

Visitors to Banjaar Tola typically come seeking one thing: glimpses of the area's celebrity species, the tiger, of which only about 4,000 remain in the wild. But after the long journey there, which requires a five-hour drive from the nearest airport, it's not uncommon for travelers to be pleasantly surprised by the tented camp's ample charm itself.

Situated on the banks of the Banjaar River, amidst the sal and bamboo forests of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha National Park, Banjaar Tola's two camps of nine tented suites have extraordinary eco cred. They're built on platforms with minimal disruption to the lush jungle surroundings. Canvas walls and pressed-bamboo floors house locally made exotic-wood furniture and natural-fiber rugs and linens in hues of saffron and green. The main lodge offers al fresco dining, a swimming pool, and a library with books about wildlife.

Banjaar Tola opened in 2009 as the last camp in a series of four throughout India dedicated solely to tiger safaris. Built by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and &Beyond, an African safari operator, they are the first of their kind in India, a country with ample wildlife that remains largely unseen by visitors. The lodges make a special effort to employ locals and illustrate the value of wildlife, so that poaching becomes less acceptable.

Not surprisingly, activities at Banjaar Tola revolve around watching for tigers, the largest cat species on the planet. Guests have several options for transportation, including Land Cruisers, walking safaris, or elephant rides.

Dawn and dusk are often the optimal times to spot the elusive creatures. If the area is prime habitat for an apex predator, it follows that there is plenty of other wildlife and prey. Rare species such as leopard, sloth bear, and the highly endangered hard-ground barasingha, a type of deer hunted nearly to extinction, frequent the area as well as more common species like the jackal, langur, wild pig, and barking deer. The best way to top off a day of wildlife watching at Banjaar Tola is, of course, sundowners—African for cocktails—at Sunset Point, an aptly named lookout.